Native courts enforced custom only where compatible with French civilization

Evidence

Outside the district of French courts (and Muslim courts), native courts had jurisdiction in all matters involving African subjects. These courts applied customary or Muslim law to the extent that it did not conflict with the principles of French civilization. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 309

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘principles of French civilization’ qualifier is the cession of real sovereignty; connects to wider republican assimilation/association debates in this book.